Closings

Severe Weather

6 elderly Mass. women face nuke protest charges

By Associated Press

Published On: Nov 22 2012 03:08:25 PM EST

MONTPELIER, Vt. -

Six elderly Massachusetts women are scheduled to go on trial next week on charges they chained themselves to the gate at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant two days after the state was hammered by the remnants of Hurricane Irene.

The women, all members of the Shut It Down Affinity Group, traveled to the plant gate in Vernon on Aug. 30, 2011, used a chain and padlock to lock the entrance gate and chained themselves to the fence.

It was one of about 22 protests the group has mounted against the reactor's continued operation in recent years. There have been five similar protests since the one that triggered the trespass charges.

Three of the women are from Northampton and one each is from Athol, Colrain and West Springfield.

Copyright 2012 byWPTZ All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.